The revolutionary step, taken by the Modi government is welcomed by the entire nation, to reserve the 10% seats in educational institutions and in jobs, in favour of the economically backward classes (EBCs) of the country. It will be the beyond the current caste quotas of 50%. However, these proposed quotas for the EBCs are entirely different from the earlier caste quotas. One quota was based on the false narrative of Victimhood caste, the SC/STs and the other was based on to consolidate the caste vote banks on the basis of the Mandal Project but it was claimed erroneously to brought in the OBCs who were again victim and left-outs of the caste system. Actually, this group was the caste perpetrators too. Again, a fake and false narrative.
Caste-based reservations have made castes fighting like the Kilkenny cats for quotas. Even more disturbing is that the ‘facts’ on which claims are made are mere fake and false assumptions for there are no official record of atrocities and oppression of so-called ‘centuries’. In addition, conducting caste census to bring clarity will divide the society!
Only, this reservation proposed by the Modi government is truly need and poverty based, seeks to help those who are genuinely poor and victims of poverty and oppressed by under Mughal and Britisher rule, as well as in independent India. They are the victims of state failures to provide quality education, safety, as well as to create enough means of livelihood. Therefore, the need is apparent. It will give much-needed authenticity to the failed social justice project. Now, the reservation will be more secular, inclusive, imparting social justice.
The government should keep a necessary minimum qualifying mark for EBSs, otherwise, it will be criticized by the people as OBC beneficiaries of quotas carry the stigma of being inefficient and meritless. This will avoid the condemnation them as less meritorious, a criticism SC/STs have carried so far.
On the other hand, the creamy layer among SC/STs should also be fixed who are well endowed economically and socially and are become ‘Palits’ and not Dalits. This will also reduce the astronomical number of aspirants from SC/ST/OBC/EBCs.
The economically backward classes (EBCs) benefits should be given only to the upper caste Hindus as they have suffered oppression for centuries, first by atrocious Mughal rule and second by Britishers. In independent India, they have suffered immensely by draconian laws like SC & ST act, caste and communal reservations. Their lands have been snatched by making draconian laws, like ‘Land Ceiling Acts’ and ‘Abolition of Zamindari Act’ etc.
Muslims and other minorities also have almost 100% quotas in lakhs of minority institutions in the country. Moreover, there are hundreds of government scheme given benefits to them, sole on communal lines. So, only upper caste Hindus are left without any government scheme, helping them.
Secondly, Muslims and minorities always criticize the reservation system, as ‘vote-bank politics’ have now become the recipients of quota benefits. The government and judiciary should allow setting for claims and countering claims of backwardness by other groups, especially by Muslims. This will be the main concern to cause political and social tensions unrest.
The government must remove the rich and powerful castes like Yadav, Kurmi, Sonar, Paswan, Jatav, Vanniar, Nadar, Kapu, Lingayat, Vokkalis, and Muslims, as they are no more backwards and reduce the caste percentage so that all the quotas should be kept within 50%.
The economic criterion to restrict quota benefits is hoped to remove the creamy layer. Can a rich and powerful group, say the Muslims, who holds the maximum land in the country and controls so many businesses like scrap, meat, cattle, vegetable, fruits, transport etc, be allowed to use the EBC route just because there are poor Muslims?
If the answer is affirmative, the system is stacked against those castes, such as Jats, Marathas, Gurjars, and Patidars who are not only under-represented but do not hold big land holdings, due to Land Ceiling Act and Abolition of Zamindari Act.
The government new thinking on quota system will end of caste discrimination and divide. It will also expose the fake claims of the sufferings of victims of caste.
The 124th Amendment seeks to delink quotas from their raison d’etre, caste. Now, the SC/ST/OBC/Minority commissions should be merged together and renamed as ‘National Social Justice Commission.’ It is an exercise as a bold attempt at social reform and a war cry against the politics of divide and rule. Wish that the intended beneficiaries of new and inclusive quotas should get the benefits at the earliest.
No comments:
Post a Comment